R1bn Thavhani Mall for Thohoyandou

A sod-turning ceremony to mark the official start of construction on the new R1 billion Thavhani Mall took place in Thohoyandou a fortnight ago. It is expected that the new development will create about 1 500 permanent jobs.

The acting premier and MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Mr Jerry Ndou, local political heavyweights and senior traditional leaders attended the event in the Thohoyandou Library and then moved outside the building for the ceremonial sod turning and photograph event. The mall’s owners and developmers, Thavhani Property Investments, will construct the 50 000m² regional shopping centre.

“Thavhani Mall will be the anchor and catalyst development within a new, bigger commercial development node on a 27 hectare site in Thulamela, dubbed Thavhani City. This is a key mega-development as part of the Thulamela municipality’s vision of securing city status by 2030,” said MEC Ndou. 

He added that the government’s role was to create an environment for proper infrastructure, so that businesspeople would be able to invest. “This initiative will also help to uplift our communities,” added Ndou.

Local businessman Chief Jeffrey Ramovha of Thavhani Property Investments first had a vision for a regional mall in the area six years ago. He later roped in pre-eminent South African shopping centre developers and investors Flanagan& Gerard Property Development and Investment to help turn his vision into a reality.

Mr Patrick Flanagan, executive director of Flanagan & Gerard Property Development and Investment, a shareholder in Thavhani Property Investment, said Thavhani Mall was a major investment in the area and would be the largest shopping centre in Thohoyandou as well as the greater Thulamela municipality. “We are proud to be part of making this exciting mall development a reality. The people of Thulamela and surrounding areas can look forward to a great shopping and leisure destination in Thavhani Mall, with more than 106 retail stores, restaurants and service outlets part of its offering,” he said.

Date:12 August 2015

By: Silas Nduvheni

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